Florida Music Education Association 2019 All-State Music Conference

“Reading and Playing Guitar Out of Open Position”

Presenter:

Christopher Perez Director of Guitar Studies

Freedom High School, Orlando, FL

Friday, January 11, 2018 – 4:00pm Marriott Waterside Florida Ballroom, Salons 1-3,

Tampa, FL

“The approach to what you do, results in what you get…”

Freddie Gruber (1927-2011) – Drummer and Master Teacher

Regardless of style, one challenge young guitarists face is making the jump from playing in open position (also called 1st position using open strings through the first four frets) to playing in alternate positions. Students need to demonstrate proficiency reading/performing with these open position items:

first position scales in C, F (two octaves), Bb, G (two octaves), D, A (two octaves), and in E (two octaves)

performing simple melodies using natural and enharmonic notes in 1st (Open Position)

Once students are comfortable with the above items, they are ready to tackle reading in different positions on the guitar. Below are several exercises and resources to aide in developing reading and technical proficiency in playing out of open position. C Major Scale – This scale is one that can be practiced in a variety of positions (fixed and moveable) on the guitar. Through practice, students will develop better reading ability in different guitar positions. For the one octave C major scale, Example 1 below shows the open/1st position form, beginning on the A string, third fret along with proper L.H. finger use.

C Major Scale (Open Position)

Example 2 uses the same notes of the C scale but using a different finger, fret combination and using only three strings.

C Major Scale (2nd Position)

Example 3 begins on the low E string, eighth fret, yet uses the same fingerings as Example 2 with only the bass strings.

C Major Scale (7thPosition)

If students know the natural and enharmonic notes on the E and A strings, they can play ANY one octave major scale starting on the E or A bass strings and using the finger pattern from the 2nd and 7th position C Major Scales.

Example 4 begins on the low E string (7th position); the next uses the Segovia Style finger shift.

2 octave C Major Scale (7thPosition)

2 octave Segovia Scale (finger shifts)

Example 5 The A Natural Notes Scale (5th position) – Practicing this scale will help facilitate learning all natural notes in 5th position.

A Natural Notes Scale (5th Position)

Example 6a is from No. 14 “The Shift” from Branford Werner’s 20 Favorite Exercises for Classical Guitar and may be purchased here at: thisisclassicalguitar.com This is a great manual in developing reading and technique for beginner to intermediate guitar students! This exercise help students find different notes of “C, Db, D and Eb” on various points on the neck. It facilitates hand/finger/eye coordination and teaches students how to “track” on the fret board. To play:

You use your L.H. 1st finger only for the first measure.

In the second, and subsequent measures, add the L.H. 2nd finger, 3rd finger, 4th finger, while you lock your other fingers to “guide” where you shift. Your fingers will be connected and will move together.

Example 6b - I expanded it further, adding more notes to “The Shift”. Instead of three “root” notes I have four. You can also train your students to begin on different “root” notes on the guitar, using the same finger pattern.

In addition to Branford Werner’s 20 Favorite Exercises for Classical Guitar warm-up manual, I have also found that using the resources below will aide in student’s reading and technical development in open positions and beyond. Sight Reading for Guitarists by Steve Marsh, Mel Bay:

www.melbay.com

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/sight-reading-for-guitarists-digital-sheet-music/19900585

https://www.amazon.com/Mel-Bay-Sight-Reading-Guitarists/dp/0786647965 Aside from reading in 1st position, most exercises may be practiced and played in alternate positions.

FJH Guitar Skill Sheets (set of five each sold separately): by Phillip Groeber/Edited by Leo Welch, David Hoge, and Hugh Chandler FJH Music Publications - http://www.fjhmusic.com/guitar/skill.htm • No. 1 - First Position Major Scales • No. 2 - First Position Minor Scales • No. 3 - Movable Position Major Scales • No. 4 - Movable Position Minor Scales • No. 5 - Chords and Arpeggios

Ultimately, the only way one gets better in reading music is to practice it every day! Sight-read every day. Continually read new music. By working on this skill and learning to use more of the fret board, more music will be available for you and your students to enjoy!

Thank you for attending today’s session! If you have more questions, please contact:

Christopher.Perez@ocps.net